Patrick brady



(No Model.)

- P. BRADY; CORN SHOCK TIGHTBNBR 7 Patefi e an. 5, 1897.

twine cutting and clutching device.

EETEE.

PATENT PATRICK BRADY, OF EMPORIA, KANSAS.

CORN-SHOCK TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,778, dated January 5, 1897.

Application filed April 6, 1896. Serial No. 586,434. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PATRICK BRADY,'a citizen of the United States, residing at Emporia, in the county of Lyon and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Corn-Shock Tightener, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for compressing and holding corn-shocks in a compressed condition during the tying thereof, and the object in view is to provide a simple and efficient device including a compressing-rope and means for holding or clamping the same and a cutter and cooperating clutch adapted, respectively, to detach the tied portion of a cord and'engage the extremity of the continuous portion.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tightener embodying my invention applied in the operative position to a shock. Fig. 2 is a detail view in perspective of the Fig. 3 is a detail View of the tightener inverted to show the means for guiding and clamping the compressing-rope.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawaround a direction-pulley 4, which is disposed between the planes of the base and a cheekplate 5, and arranged contiguous to the pulley is a rope-clamp consisting of approximately parallel spring-loops 6, between which the free end of the rope is adapted to be forced to prevent slacking of the rope after the shock has been compressed thereby. Hence in operation the end of the rope which is attached to the base or weight is carried around the left to the right.

shock by throwing the base or weight from the left toward the right as the operator approaches the shock, after which the free end of the rope is carried around the directionpulley and is drawn taut until the shock reaches the desired compression, when the rope is engaged between the loops or jaws forming the clamp.

In connection with the above construction I employ a twine-clutch consisting of a plate '7, secured to the base or weight and having a serrated upper edge and a pivotal plate 8, mounted upon the fixed plate and provided with a handle or fin ger-hold 9, the engagement of the free end of the tying-twine 10 being accomplished by placing it across the upper serrated edge of the stationary plate of the clutch when the movable plate thereof is in the elevated position indicated in Fig. 2 and then pressing said movable plate downwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 to engage the end of the twine between the two plates.

Arranged contiguous to and adapted to be operated by the same means as the clutch is a cutter consisting of a fixed blade 11 and a pivotal blade 12, the latter being attached to the handle 9, whereby the twine clutch and cutter are operated simultaneously.

After compressing the shock in the manner above described and securing the free end of the rope in the clamp provided for that purpose the twine is tied around the shock and the continuous portion thereof beyond the knot is extended between the knife-blades and over the stationary clutch-plate from the The depression of the handle or finger-hold then severs the twine and simultaneously engages the extremity of the continuous portion of the twine between the clutch-plates, whereby when the base or weight is subsequently thrown around a shock to extend the rope therearound the free end of the twine is also extended around the shock to avoid the necessity of carrying the same. Thus the extension of the rope and twine around a shock is accomplished at one operation, after which the shock is tied by drawing the rope and securing it, and subsequently the twine is tied and cut, the operation of cutting securing the free end of the continuous portion of the twine in condition for subsequent extension around another shock.

The construction above described avoids the necessity of carrying the rope and twine around the shock to be tied and also avoids the necessity of employing a separate knife or cutter for severing the twine, and thereby materially facilitates the operation of securing the shock.

In order to facilitate the carrying of a ball of twine by the operator, I preferably employ a sack 13, adapted to be arranged under the left arm and provided with a securing-strap 1i to pass over the right shoulder; but any equivalent means may be employed for this purpose.

In order to hold the combined cutter and clutch in its closed position, I employ a transverse friction-pin 13 to engage a beveled face 11 on the stationary clutch-plate 7.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Ilaving described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a shock-tightener, the combination with a rope, of a weight attached to one end of the rope and carrying a direction-pulley, and a rope-clamp arranged upon the weight and consisting of contiguous approximately parallel springmetal loops between which the free end of the rope is adapted to be passed to secure a shock at the desired compression, substantially as specified.

2. I11 a shock-tightener, the combination with a rope, of a weight attached to one end of the rope and carrying a rope-clamp, a twinecutter carried by the base, and a twine-clutch mounted upon the weight and adapted to engage the free end of the twine whereby the latter may be extended around a shock simultaneousl y with the rope, substantially as specified.

3. In a shock-tightener, the combination with a rope, of a weight secured to one end of the rope and carrying a rope-clamp, and a combined twine cutting and clutching device including a fixed blade and a fixed parallel plate, a pivotal blade, and a pivotal clutchplate cooperating with the fixed plate, said pivotal blade and clutch plate being connected for simultaneous operation to a common handle or finger-hold, substantially as PATRICK BRADY. IV itnesses:

II. A. Loy, 1;. C. HAYS. 

